The fly fishing show season is coming to an end and we would like to thank everyone for bearing with us through this busy time when we were away from the lake and on the road and therefore missing a few fishing reports. Casey Anderson threw some excitement into the fly fishing scene by tattooing at the fly fishing show. Casey did all kinds of creative fly fishing tattoos on some of the fly fishing die hards. It was a pleasant feeling to come back home to the lake and have the fishing be much better than the month prior. So it's time to start tying up your bugs and plan the next trip. Now on to the fishing!

It has been a dry winter for the sierras and the valley with mild to no storms which has made for a tough January at pyramid lake. When we have gotten storms the fishing has been as you could expect, GREAT. Though when the water is cold and the sun is high and bright it does make for a slow mid day bite. The mornings and late/afternoon and evenings have been the best times for January. Now as we transition into slightly warmer days and the shallows warm up, the fish are starting to come into the shallows for longer periods to feed. More big fish have been caught in the last two weeks than the whole month prior (from shore).

angler Sarah Landstrom Photo copyright r valentine atkinson

We are really starting to see bigger fish coming in at all periods of the day. Especially when there are clouds or chop on the surface. Which is great news for the very near future as it's a very steady up hill climb. Fish are still being caught from north to south and we really have not found one beach really out-fishing another.

Photo copyright r valentine atkinson

For the sunny calm days stripping the deeper drop off beaches will be your best chance at success during mid day when it is hard fishing. Morning and Evening bites have been fairly consistent every where. The flies you will want to have in your arsenal include: popcorn beetles and boobies in white, black, chartreuse, red/pink and combos of those colors. The trailing fly has been less specific as all bait fish streamers, clousers, wooly buggers and wooly worms etc. all have been doing very well. Again in the same colors as the beetles and boobies but use opposite colors when using the pair for higher contrast between flies. Floating line with or with out an indicator has been hit or miss because of fish being a little deeper this time of year. They do much better in the morning and in the evenings on some of the close drops. Midges and nymphs have been working just as well as balanced leeches for us, especially as the water starts to warm and we aren't getting much for wind or weather. Successful colors for anything hanging is black, olive, grey and red/wine. Don't be afraid to vary depths or retrieve speed as well. There are big fish lurking and fishing hard through next month will be one of your best times to catch your personal best cutthroat.